General News of Tuesday, 1 October 2002

Source: GNA

Medical Fair Opens in Accra

Dr Kweku Afriyie, Minister of Health on Tuesday said the government has made arrangement for the delivery of 400 vehicles to all health institutions in the country as part of efforts to improve upon health care delivery.

He said the Ministry of Finance has also given a positive response to arrangements to provide health professionals with vehicles, especially those in the rural areas to stem the brain drain in the health sector.

Dr Afriyie was opening a seven-day Medical Exhibition, organised by the Trade Fair Company in Accra to showcase new drugs and developments in the medical field.

He said new hospitals were being built all over, including those at Bimbilla and New Edubiase as part of the government promise to improve the health system.

He urged health workers to appreciate government's effort and use the right channels in making demands for better conditions of service instead of resorting to strike actions.

On HIV/AIDS, the Health Minister said there was the need to hold regular seminars and workshops for both the young and old on the disease.

Ms Esther Ofori, the Chief Executive of the Trade Fair Company, said workshops on malaria, HIV/AIDS and hypertension would be run along side the exhibition, as part of efforts aimed at educating the public on preventive health care.

Pfizer-Ghana, Astra Zeneca and Janssen-Cilag were among some drug companies exhibiting their products.